15145/Moving In To A Happier Place

Moving In To A Happier Place
Date of Scene:	14 June 2023
Location:	Dormitories - Happy Harbor High School
Synopsis:	Caleb and Sheila move into Happy Harbor High School. Past is reminisced, doubts about safety linger. But there's the promise of Big Belly Burgers!
Cast of Characters:	Caleb Dykstra, Michael Hannigan

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Caleb Dykstra has posed:
It's mid-afternoon in Happy Harbor, and in the dorms' lounge area there are... Some boxes being moved in by the two Dykstra siblings. The 'some' is key here, for they are comparatively few in regards to when your ordinary new student moves in.

Said ordinary new student being, someone who wouldn't be on the run from the mob.

Count six boxes, total. Divided between the two siblings, that would be three each. If it feels like there's something wrong with this count, don't worry because you're not wrong.

Caleb is looking at Sheila, who's watching in a bit of awe at, curiously enough, how bright it all seems. An allusion to the stark contrast of Gotham, maybe? That perception only kids can feel?

Well, Caleb seems to agree, so maybe he's a bit of a kid on the inside - the kid he was never allowed to be.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
On the bright side with so few boxes to move in, it made it to where it only took one shuttle trip to get the belongings to the property. And with there being little required of the task, they had even recruited the help of the shuttle driver to bring in a box as far as the lounge area. Then the man had to run back to the van.  

So, onebox was on the floor. Two of them were in the hands of one Mike Hannigan. Musician, Rockstar, and sometimes chaperone for school fieldtrips. Mike glances over towards one of the hallways and then back to Caleb. "So have you had a chance to check out the rooms yet?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Well, I've looked at one or two rooms", Caleb says. "They seem comfy and spacious."

Sheila looks at Mike, "Will we have desks?" It's a bit of an odd question...

But Caleb replies without even a slight frown. "Yes, we will." He looks at Mike. "It might sound odd, but believe me it's...", he pauses, "...a long story."

"And a computer I can study with?", she asks.

Caleb nods, "A laptop." To Mike, "It's on my 'to do' list."

"And what about dad? Is he gonna come visit?", she asks, clearly missing him.

"Of course, sweetie", Caleb adds, "Or we'll come visit. It's however we choose."

Back to Mike, "We're tightly knit, the Dykstras. It pains us when we get split apart."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike nods. "Well, they're different rooms but still the same building. So it will be like the two of you are in the same house." He glances down to the boxes, "So, once the driver gets back with the last box, we can leave him here with the ones for your room and carry the ones for Sheila's room over."

The boxes in Mike's hands get looked at, checking the labeling on the side before looking to the one on the floor. He shifts over, crouching down to leave the bottom box he had on the floor.

"The retreat's not too far from the school so visiting should be possible either way."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"And I never got a chance to thank you for helping us, man", Caleb says as he sorts the boxes. "Aren't you worried that the mob somehow finds out you've got a hand in helping us out?" He keeps his voice down as Sheila takes a moment to rest on the nearest bench. "I mean, when they want to go after people, they tend to leave no stone unturned, or head bashed in..."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"It's no problem, Caleb." Mike responds, setting the remaining box over with a similarly marked box. "No thanks needed."

Although no longer holding boxes, Mike remains crouched down as he considers Caleb's question. "Well, The world's full of s-" Mike pauses, "Not nice people. And if you spend your life in fear of them, you won't get to live your life." He straightens up, "That doesn't mean I'm going to be strutting into their turf gloating or anything like that though."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Not much of a life, if you get to live over your shoulder for the rest of your life...", Caleb keeps his voice lowered. "And yeah, that's not very smart at all. You only do that when you got nothing to lose, or a very big card up your sleeve." He adds, then. "Like Batman. He's got nothing to lose." He sight, "But man, Gotham...? That city's took way too much away from me to ever want to go back there, you know?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Nothing left to lose..." The musician repeats, "That's- Actually a good way to explain my career choices." Mike frowns slightly. "Gotham- is a place of mixed emotions for me." He admits, "But it doesn't bear full responsibility for the bad so that makes going back easier."

There isn't much more explanation to that before he looks over to the siblings. "I am glad you two made it in to the school. I hope this helps get you to your second chance."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"It cost my mother's life, during the big one", Caleb says. "Sheila there was born under the wreckage of our pretty nice family residence. I'm sure help would've come sooner, if someone hadn't decided that Gotham was beyond saving, and we had to manage with what we had. Who profited at the cost of lives? Whoever could keep the goods. And those were guys like the Penguin, or Falcone, or Vittorelli."

"My dad had to sell his soul to Vittorelli to get through hardships, one among them almost cost me my life." He raises his shirt to reveal a bullet scar on his ribs. "Got this sexy thing while protecting Sheila during a store heist when she was around five. It cost me two months of my life, and the medical bills...? Whoah!, past the roof!" And shrugs, "I still get the pneumothorax every now and then, so if I ever start coughing and curl on myself, call 9-1-1."

"And when I started working for Vittorelli, I could feel my soul being eroded", Caleb says. "It would've cost me my life, my dad's, and Sheila's most of all."

"I have no doubts Gotham has good people in it", he summarizes. "But sometimes, I feel those good people are just hostages to an all-consuming evil that is impregnated in the steel and concrete."

"Thanks, man. I'm glad me and mine got the chance to leave." His face becomes pensive, ominous. "Because I feel we made it out just in time."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike is quiet, listening to Caleb go through his rant about all things Gotham. Jaw clenching, he glances over to Sheila as she's mentioned keeping his glance there in the meantime. His arm turns slightly obscuring any glimpse of the scar from the teen.

Once Caleb hints to potential problems in the future. "Just do what you can to make the most of this." He looks over to Caleb, "It's not an either or situation. The BOTH of you. If you get yourself on better footing it'll be harder to knock you down. As for the situation, were you upfront about it when you spoke with admissions? So they can better prepare?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"I was", Caleb affirms. "I'm not going to have secrets about his with those who're providing me with the opportunity for a new life." He faintly gestures around. "One or two people here could use my past as leverage to get me back on the old life, and I won't stand for that. They can go get their supplies elsewhere."

And now, the cogs in his head working.

"Please, tell me they don't know Vittorelli himself..."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
To the affirmative, Mike nods in approval. It'll be easier for those who need to know about potential complications to actually know. But then Caleb's paranoia is kicking in.

Mike tilts his head, glancing up at the question. "Caleb." Mike starts, shifting back to a standing position. "Caleb. If I knew of any existing relationships between someone here and that f- ... guy, do you think I'd even have allowed for this school to even be considered?"

Before the teen can have time to think about it, he shakes his head. "I know habits die hard but- try to relax when you're at this school, alright?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb Dykstra shrugs, "I dunno, man." Nervous chuckle. "Maybe it's just me, or the gears of the clock ticking." He adds, "I'd like to say that soon will come the days when I won't have a knife under my pillow at night."

"But can you truly speak for every single one here?" He shakes his head. "Lower your guard, you get hurt. Basic Gotham 101."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Keep your guard up at all times. Never really live. Life 101."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Good counter", Caleb smirks. "Life means nothing if you don't know how to survive." A shrug, "Streetsmart Shakespeare, Act Three, Scene Four."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
To the prompt for a return, the musician accommodates. "Living in fear is another way of dying before your time." He pauses, glancing to the main entranceway to the lobby, "Take it from me. Hunkering down in one place, unable to do a dang thing by yourself is not a way to live. Allow yourself a chance to breathe. Find something you love and learn it. Make friends. Build connections. You need to relax a little to achieve those."

As the driver pops in to set the final box down, Mike gives a nod to him before the man goes back to tend to the shuttle. "So, whose room are we taking stuff to first?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Mine's just fine", he says. "Assuming Sheila can't come with, she can get herself something to eat."

And it looks like she's only distracted when she wants to, because at the mention of eating, she lifts her head up from the cellphone game she's playing.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike glances over to the mentioned sister, chuckling slightly at the sudden case of paying attention. "I don't know the cafeteria time period but I do believe one floor has vending machines if you're just looking for a snack."

Room decided upon, Mike shifts over to the stack of boxes marked for Caleb's room. "If you guys want, we can go get burgers after the move." He pauses to lift a stack of two boxes. "My treat."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"And your wallet, friend", he mischeviously smiles.

And the same smile creeps up on Sheila's face. "Burgers...! Big Belly Burgers...!"

Back to Mike, he shrugs, "Big Belly Burger and Sheila's appetite have a bit of a thing going on; she loves them as much as the franchise loves her." He makes the 'money' gesture.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike grins at the response, "Well I guess in that case. Best avoid the vending machine so you can get more burgers in today." He glances to the remaining boxes which don't go to Caleb's room and then back to Sheila, "How about you hang back here with the remaining boxes and we'll run these over quickly to Caleb's room, and then get your stuff situated in yours?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Sheila nodnods, and sits down waiting. "The more you make me wait, the more you pay."

Sometimes, she surpises even Caleb. "Sheila...?!" But he chuckles in the end, shrugging apologetically. "Sorry, it's the excitement."

He starts to carry the boxes over to the dorm room. "I'm going to have to show you something I'm making, and hopefully I can contribute to the musical score..."